A well-priced rowhouse for sale near West Queen West, just off the Ossington, has the people of Toronto talking.

More specifically, it has them talking about murder and bones and movies from the Saw franchise.

The $749,900 home in question sounds like a steal based on its location, which commands $1,055,120 for a single family home on average. But once you look past the house's cute red exterior and proximity to Trinity Bellwoods Park, it all starts to make sense.

Toronto journalist Lauren Pelley tweeted a link to the house's listing on realtor.ca Thursday evening, writing "Today in Toronto real estate."

By Friday afternoon that tweet had been liked and retweeted hundreds of times, with dozens of people commenting on the post to make jokes about this so-called "builder's delight."

Today in Toronto real estate: pic.twitter.com/a1QaYsOiHW

— Lauren Pelley (@LaurenPelley) January 12, 2018

"Exactly how many people were murdered there?" asked one commenter.

"Yeah the outside does NOT look like the home in which the guy died from eating too much spaghetti in the movie Seven," wrote another.

Others likened the home's aesthetic to a horror movie set, or joked that it was a bargain for Toronto's wild and wacky housing market.

"If you lived here you'd be dead by now!"

— Nathan Whitlock (@nathanwhitlock) January 12, 2018

Some people are suggesting that the home is "clearly a tear down" – meaning that the land is what's being advertised here – but the fact that it's a conjoined townhouse makes that pretty darned unlikely.

Still, renovating up this extreme fixer upper will take a lot of work. 

The listing says it "just needs TLC, renovations and remodeling to become your dream home!"

Until then, stay away from 15 Rebecca St. at night.

The Scarborough Bluffs are one of Toronto's most unique and impressive natural features. 

Summer, winter, spring or fall, going to the Bluffs feels (and looks) like going on vacation to a far-off foreign land. They're like nothing else in this city.

They're annoying as heck to get to, though – at least for now. And if you don't have a car, it's an excruciating walk down (and, later, back up) Brimley Rd. to access the waterfront. 

The TTC is recommending that a trial bus service to Bluffers Park be implemented this summer, "subject to infrastructure and operational requirements being met."

Enjoy the holiday at the Scarborough Bluffs. They're beautiful! Now good luck finding parking. #Toronto#SimcoeDaypic.twitter.com/SjmtINuK4m

— Jim Bamboulis (@travelmammal) August 1, 2016

If approved by the transit agency's board, buses will run on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. approximately every 15 - 20 minutes. Service will start May 13, 2018 and conclude by Thanksgiving.

"The park is seeing an increased number of visitors – local and tourist – and with access primarily by private automobile," reads a report set to go before the TTC board on January 18.

"Demand is exceeding the available parking supply and consequently leading to traffic congestion on access roads."

The TTC and City of Toronto hope that setting up bus service will remedy the nightmare parking situation that's come to plague the Bluffs and surrounding neighbourhoods.

These busses will also provide park access for people who rely on the TTC as their primary means of transportation, and allow people with mobility issues to enjoy the shoreline at Bluffers Park.

Food delivery in Toronto has transitioned from dialing a number, to ordering online to opening an app on your phone. While players have come and gone over the years, these days the industry has mostly consolidated with a handful of big players left.

Here's a round-up of the current crop of restaurant delivery services and apps in Toronto.

Just-Eat

Since it's been around for awhile, this Canadian company has a huge selection of places to order or pickup from. In most cases, there's a minimum order and a sliding delivery fee starting at around $3.

UberEATS

This app is is probably the most expensive option, with increased fees for certain areas during busy times and a $4.99 delivery fee on all orders. But it's also arguably the easiest, requiring only the press of a button before your food magically appears at your door.

Foodora

After absorbing Hurrier and several smaller delivery services, this German company has amassed a wide selection of restaurants to choose from. The site and app give you a nice rundown of the many food options and includes a set delivery fee of $4.50.

DoorDash

DoorDash is big on details, letting you customize your order down to the last bit. With a flat rate of $4.99 for delivery, you can order for groups, pre-order, or if you're feeling adventurous, try from a selection of different restaurants for free on the first order.

Skip the Dishes

This Winnipeg based company allow for smaller orders, so you can try out new food options nearby. Delivery fees vary starting from $2.45 and could even be free if the order size is big enough.

Chanmao

This Richmond Hill based company specialized in Chinese food delivery and you'll find a lot of restaurants that aren't represented by the other players.

A hard loft with exposed brick in the downtown core is just one lease agreement away when you're working with $3,500 a month for an apartment rental in Toronto. Of course, you've got plenty of other options too, depending on what you like; standalone bathtubs, private gardens, bookshelves with ladders. The possibilities seem endless.

Here's what a $3,500 apartment looks like in Toronto right now.

$3,500 for a Pinterest-worthy palace 

Everything about this spacious, second and third floor Bloor West Village loft screams "photograph me!" from the spiral staircase to the sloping ceilings. A bathtub in a bedroom might seem weird at first, but it also sounds like the kind of thing you'd wonder how you ever lived without.

$3,500 for a basketball court on Bremner

Okay so, you don't get a private basketball court with this corner unit condo (you need like, Drake money for that,) but this sports-lover's paradise does have an indoor running track, squash courts, a lane pool and a bowling alley. It's also literally steps from The Rogers Centre. 

$3,500 for a hard loft in St. Lawrence Market

Vacancies like this don't happen every day, but when they do... you'll need $3,500 a month to move in. Two levels, two bedrooms, exposed brick and beams, natural light, 1,200 square feet – and did I mention it's a penthouse? I'd sell a kidney for a place like this.

$3,500 for a sun room and garden in Rosedale

This place is straight up out of a fairy tale. It's got three levels, new oak floors, a sun room worthy of daily selfies and exclusive access to a trellised backyard with its own garden. You'll find it nestled on a dreamy, tree-lined street near some of Toronto's biggest forested parks. 

$3,500 for a Merchandise Lofts mini-library

Be still my heart! This 2-bedroom loft near Church and Dundas has "extensive bookshelves" with a custom ladder! This building's rooftop terrace is next-level cool, and the unit itself is gorgeous, with oak floors, granite counters and 12 foot ceilings. Those bookshelves, though.

Persian rugs in Toronto may not be as in demand as they once were, but the luxury of having an authentic Iranian carpet will never go out of style. There’s an art form to buying and selling Persian rugs, so it’s key you visit a store that’s well-versed in the traditions of this ancient trade.

Here's a round-up of stores for Persian rugs in Toronto.

Pealac Rug

Only stocking rugs from Iran, Pealac sources carpets from renowned textile cities straight to this store near Broadview and Danforth. They also carry tribal Persian rugs: a rare commodity. 

Turco Persian Rug Company

This store in Corktown has a huge showroom with Persian rugs from around the world, not just Iran. The largest rug size here is a whopping 20 feet by 32 feet. Check their clearance section for deals, especially on rugs that are used.

Blue Paisley

This St. Clair West store carries Persian rugs from all over Iran. Owner Naser Roushan has been a long-time purveyor of rugs in Toronto, and this store carries a huge selection of products for all budgets.

Siddiqui Oriental Rugs

Siddiq’s Persian carpets come from Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, meaning you can expect to pay a lot less at this Etobicoke shop without sacrificing the classic design. They also have a range of synthetic rugs for those on a budget.

Royal Antique Rugs

A haven for antique collectors, this business has been run by the Bakshi family for three generations and is now headed by David Bakshi, a former antique rug expert at the Textile Museum. Carpets at this Eglinton West shop are handwoven in cotton or silk and vegetable dyed.

Lashar Rugs

This Danforth rug store carries a selection from Iran as from India, Afghanistan and Turkey with a variety of colours and styles, if you’re looking for a specific look. They also do free pick up and delivery, and will occasionally let you trade in your rug for another one.

Tavares Oriental

Specializing in overdyed rugs, carpets from this Brockton Village store are perfect for apartments. Tavares rugs come from India, Nepal, Morocco, Turkey and Portugal, and while they do have some stunning Persian rugs, Tibetan carpets here might actually steal the show.

The Fifth Wall

This narrow store near King and Jarvis has a range of Persian rugs of different prices and sizes. Even if you don’t know what you're looking for, you're sure to find some handwoven inspiration here.

Kasra

This Richmond Hill carpet shop offers a great selection of handmade and machine-made Persian carpets from Iran. For those who have never bought a rug before, it’s worth making a trip for the variety.

Tapis

Store owners at this Castlefield Design District store are liberal with their carpet services: they offer everything from to rug renting for movie sets and photoshoots. Not sure if the Persian rug you picked is the right one? They’ll let you take it home for a trial period at no extra cost.

Custom furniture in Toronto is the way to go if you want to build the homeware of your dreams. From simple storage solutions to vintage woodwork, the options for customization are endless. Furniture is pretty expensive in general, so if you’re going to drop lots of cash on a sofa you might as well make sure it’s built exactly how you like it.

Here are my picks for where to source custom furniture in Toronto.

Brothers Dressler

Best known for their “branch” chandeliers made of Ontario wood, this furniture workshop in the Junction Triangle is run by twin brothers Jason and Lars. They specialize in reclaimed and responsibly-sourced woods and fabrics at varying prices.

Forever Interiors

Using materials that some people might call “junk”, specialists at this Junction shop use creative recycling to create custom tables and unique pieces made of everything from to discarded doors.

Heidi Earnshaw

As a furniture-making heavyweight in the city, Heidi’s praised pieces are all handmade, re-purposing the simplistic styles of Japanese and Scandinavian construction to create classic furniture. Her workshop in the Junction Triangle also moonlights as a studio where you can learn the art of woodworking.

Contrast Living

This store specializes in furniture made from local, repurposed wood. You can commission a piece from their South Etobicoke workshop made of old barn boards or shop their custom bench tables and unique table legs.

Bread&Butter Designs

A handful of businesses like the local hat store Gooderham & Worts have commissioned this Little Italy workshop to create their custom raw steel signs. Using salvaged wood for their pieces, they also build entire walls and headboards from scratch.

Vienna Upholstery

Need some new fabric on an old armchair? Head to this store in Scarborough and find the perfect print for your furniture. The owner, Ross, will help you pick out the fabric you want and reupholster your furniture, aged or new. They also make custom sofas to order.

Son Of A Woodcutter

Woodworker Jack Fouracre creates pieces from salvaged wood and steel that’s durable yet small enough for small condo living. His shop in Leslieville also holds DIY charcuterie board lessons for people who want to try their hand at woodworking.

Vintage Home Boutique

You can purchase custom beds and sofas with a throwback vibe at this St. Clair West store. They also conduct eco-friendly refinishing, using Canadian products without the surplus of toxic chemicals.

Akroyd Furniture

From dining tables and beds to entire kitchens, this Distillery District purveyor uses local hardwoods (much of it from local Toronto fallen trees) and mixed media to create its pieces.

Caveman Build Supply

Canadian wood and metal are the base materials for customs works from this store in Roncesvalles. Also take a look at their cutting slabs and magnet boards ideal for placing knives and keys.

Stores selling plus size clothing in Toronto aren’t the ones that cater to style terminology like “forgiving” and “camouflaging”. Friendly environments and real fashion is the expectation here, and while there are still improvements to be made in the industry serving plus-sized shoppers, prices and fits are now as diverse as ever.

Here are my picks for the top stores for plus size clothing in Toronto.

Your Big Sister's Closet

There's something for everyone at this cheerful Junction boutique with a collection of dresses and separates in sizes from X-3X. Don't leave without perusing their accessories, including bright tights, costume statement rings, and sharp handbags with extended straps.

Gussied Up

This elegant boutique in the Annex is a top destination for classic pieces and Canadian designs in sizes X-3X. Helpful owner Victoria McGroarty has an eye for wearable, versatile pieces like day-to-evening dresses, casual blazers, leggings and cute but practical undergarments.

The Answer

The selection at this near Avenue Road and Lawrence relies heavily on drapey fabrics and modest shapes – think art-teacher chic – and boasts a welcoming environment. Classic businesswear, athletic gear and a great selection of sweaters sizes 14 to 24 are highlights here, just stay away from the obnoxious style tips on their website.

Curvaceous Consignments

While pieces at this store in Thornhill err on the side of conventional and business casual, it’s the only local store of its kind catering exclusively to sizes 14-5X. It also has a few vintage knockouts waiting to be discovered, including knockoffs of Marilyn's famous halter and Joan Holloway-worthy curve-hugging sheaths.

Legs Plus and Bra Boutique

Hidden in a suburban strip mall in North York, this store is claustrophobically packed with both upscale and everyday lingerie. But unlike other bra specialists claiming to service plus sizes, only to stop at size 40, this welcome shop sells sizes 28D-58J. Bonus: they offer 15-day trial periods on their products.

Rosie the Rebel

This Queen West boutique sells 40s and 50s-inspired pieces – mostly glamorous and cheeky full-skirted dresses – in sizes that go up to 4X. Their selection is limited, but this is the only shop in town catering to lovers of pin-up style that gives substantial shelf space to plus sizes.

Kaliyana

Most well-known for her flowing three-piece ‘anti-suit’, this Canadian designer’s Toronto store at Yonge and Eglinton carries sizes six to 22. Clothing here caters to the alternative fashionista who prefers edgey, loose cuts over tight fits.

Addition Elle

A store synonymous for plus size fashion, this Montreal-based company has a location at Yonge and Queen where you can shop designer brands like Ashley Graham and Cactus Swimwear. Styles run in sizes X to 4X.

Torrid

If you’re looking for a store in the Eaton Centre, this store carries casual chic items sizes 10 to 30. They have a good selection of sweaters and jeans for shoppers who need to expand their basics.

Penningtons

Everything plus-size fashionistas need for daily life can be found at this store in Dufferin Mall. Servicing sizes 14 to 34, you can find essentials from jackets to fashionable workwear at modest prices, especially during sales.

Burlesque shows in Toronto add some flavour to regular nights out with zesty displays of body positivity in venues across the city. Whether as a side act or a main feature, there are a handful of bars and clubs in the city that use the old tassel-shimmy trick to titillate the crowds.

Here's a round-up of bars and clubs that regularly feature burlesque.

Revival

Allow yourself to be seduced by empowered acts like Les Femmes Fatales, who regularly perform at this Little Italy institution. Revival is also home to Kitty Night Toronto, a burlesque event that rolls around on every second Saturday of the month.

Painted Lady

This narrow bar serves up a variety of themed and cultural events, but its spiciest might be its Funk’n’Soul Burlesque night. The bartop dancer is more a sideshow than a main act at this Ossington bar, but she might still prove a distraction when trying to grab a drink.

Lula Lounge

While this bar in Brockton Village is mostly known for its Latin nights, a couple of running Burlesque shows are bringing the heat too. Knockout and SIZZLE! are both recurring events that feature new and old burlesque acts.

Round Venue

Paying homage to different artists and themes every show, this small bar in Kensington Market has honoured iconic divas like Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey as part of their burlesque Tribute series.

Social Capital Theatre

Treat yourself to a classy burlesque act at this comedy bar on the Danforth. The Highbrow Burlesque show is on monthly for those who want to stimulate the senses in fancy fashion.

Bovine Sex Club

Fittingly, this Queen West spot has a weekly themed burlesque series called Pussy Whipped Wednesdays. Drop by on hump days and enjoy the lineup of provocative dancers and DJs.

Cherry Cola's

Why sit on the couch and watch Netflix when you can finish off your weekend at this velvety Queen and Bathurst bar and enjoy their Sinful Sundays show, which features local acts, drag performances, and special out-of-town burlesque performers.

Rivoli

The back room of this Queen West stalwart is where you’ll find Reveal Me, a monthly show which features a mix of burlesque newbies (referred to as ‘virgins’, obviously) and more established performers.

See Scape

Trans-friendly nerd-haven See Scape isn’t just a gaming lounge in the Junction, it’s also the home of the Toronto's Nerd Girl Burlesque troupe. Taking their performance inspiration from a slew of geeky subcultures, they’re sure to make your sweaty hands drop whatever D&D tile you’re holding. Check out their show on the second Friday of every month.

Ballet

This lounge on Lower Ossington feels more like an EDM club but you can expect to see burlesque dancers most days, though they won’t always be dancing (they stick to lounging seductively, sometimes).

Eyelash extensions in Toronto are the cure for folks who want to glam up their blinkers. Whether they're made out of silk or the ever-popular mink fur, head into one of these salons and leave with some primped-out lashes.

These are my picks for the top eyelash extension salons in Toronto.

Beyond Beauty

Founder Linh Nguyen has received multiple awards from NEESA, the only eyelash extension association in North America (yes, that exists.) Her Annex spa is high in demand but also high in prices: eyelash extensions here will set you back anywhere between $120 to $445.

MYNC

This salon at Yonge & Eglinton is known for blessing its customers with lashes made of mink fur for a more natural appearance, with four lash looks that range from $90 to $195. They also offer falsies (the kind you can rip off whenever you want) for $18, which they’ll apply for you in-store.

Winks (Bloor)

Located in Yorkville, Winks has a range of facial hair services that include not-so-subtle but glamorous lash extensions – which cost from $125 to $395 – and microblading to fill out any sparse brow patches.  

Lust For Lashes

Here you can get standard sets that cost anywhere from $30 to $185, but this Dundas West also offers lashes for $1 each, so you can customize exactly how many you need around your eyes and where.

The Lash Lounge

This small salon in Leslieville offers decked out lash sets for prices between $80 and $180. If you want to refill your lashes after getting them done elsewhere, make sure to specify with these girls so you they can fix up your lashes accordingly.

Computer, app and tech classes in Toronto will help you learn everything you need to rule the world wide web. From free coding workshops to hardcore web development bootcamps, there are plenty of schools in the city for beginners to pick up some cutting-edge computer skills.

Here are my picks for the top places to take computer, web and tech classes in Toronto.

Ladies Learning Code

As the name suggests, it's ladies first (but guys are welcome too) at this non-profit run by women. This Queen West school is part of the Canada Learning Code program and has a makerspace with an open device lab, offering courses and one-day workshops that make learning HTML and Ruby a little less painful.

Camp Tech

Camp Tech is the best bet for bloggers and small business owners who want to pick up web skills but don't need to go pro. Located in Chinatown, this school provides full-day and half-day courses on everything from Wordpress to Google Analytics, and offers certificate programs with multiple classes included.

HackerYou

This school (and its tuition) will have you feeling like you’re in a proper university. Located on Queen West, HackerYou requires an application and admission process, but thankfully no grades. This school’s main attraction is its full-time, nine-week web development bootcamp that teaches HTML5, CSS3, jQuery, and more.

Bitmaker Labs

Staying true to startup success stories, Bitmaker launched quickly, generated a ton of buzz, and was almost shut down by the government for not being an accredited training institution. Despite this, the King West school continues to offer nine-week bootcamps, 12-week programs and evening courses.

BrainStation

Entrepreneurs and working professionals can head to King West and enrol in this school’s 12-week, part-time evening courses on iOS and web development. Absolute beginners have access to free three-hour intro workshops, which are open to the public. There’s also a handy coffee shop built in the school for those sleepless nights.

Toronto Public Library

As the saying goes: having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card. With Digital Innovation Hubs located at six libraries across the city, intro classes on 3D design, Arduino, and photo editing are accessible to people of all ages. Leave your wallet at home but bring your library card because all these classes are free.

Lighthouse Labs

Created by developers for developers, Lighthouse courses are held at Devhub, a co-working space for developers located on King West. They offer iOS and web development bootcamps that last 10 weeks each, and other part-time courses like Javascript fundamentals that last six weeks.

Ryerson University

It's not all about websites and apps. For people hoping to fill in some technical training gaps, the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education offers formal computer science courses, IT classes and more. A visit to their DMZ will give you a close up look at what start-up life is really about.

George Brown Continuing Education

If you prefer some good old institutional education, enrol for George Brown’s Web Development Certificate program, located at their King Street East campus. The program has a total of eight courses, and you’ll learn how to code and build apps the old-fashioned way. All you need is a USB stick.

The Blockchain Hub

Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are all the rage right now so head to York University’s campus where you'll find this innovation hub offering different courses on blockchain technology and Ethereum programming, which are probably as complicated and intense as they sound. 

Photography classes, workshops and schools in Toronto will teach you how to take your DSLR and smartphone photography skills to another level. 

Here are my picks for the top photography classes in Toronto.

Open classes
 

Photo Academy

This school provides an incredibly comprehensive list of photography courses that you can take in small groups or in private lessons. Their classes take place in various spots in the city and range from lessons on DSLRs to tricks on how to take incredible photos with just your phone.

GTA Photography Classes

Located in the Financial District, GTA has a wide selection of classes for people of all ages. Their photo fundamentals classes are typically small in size and involve field trips, and they offer in-house camera rentals for people who don’t have the gear already.

Toronto Camera Club

As the oldest camera group in the city, yearly memberships are required to be a part of this club by Yonge and Eglinton. They definitely didn’t have digital cameras back in 1888 (when the club first started) but they now hosts workshops on everything from 3D to underwater photography.

Hart House

It’s not all just plays and theatre here: Hart House runs photo workshops too. This U of T building has three to four-hour lessons that take you through camera basics but it also has some specialized courses on things film photography and  how to navigate around a darkroom.

Henry’s School of Imaging

This camera store on Church Street runs lessons single session and five-week courses from their in-house Learning Lab. It’s a good place to go for fundamentals or if you’re trying a Canon user trying to familiarize yourself Nikon gear, or vice versa.

Academic Options
 

Ryerson

Trying to pursue photography as a full-time career? Ryerson’s certificate program in Photography Studies has a curriculum as thorough as any other program. Most importantly it’ll allow you to expand your skills industries like architecture, wedding photography and photojournalism.

George Brown

This certificate will take you through all the steps to really becoming a master in in digital photography. Electives include food photography as well as wildlife and travel photography, for the National Geographic aspirers out there.

Humber

Courses in this program emphasize on commercial aspects of the industry, that is, after you’ve mastered the basics of course. You’ll learn how to use the ‘digital darkrooms’ Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop as well as develop skills in lighting for nighttime situations.

Online
 

CreativeLive

Online is the preferred method of learning for a lot of creatives who already know how to manually use a camera, but it’s useful for beginners as well. They have a popular five-dayfundamentals course  that you can get for free if you manage to catch it during live-stream hours.

Udemy

This site offers incredibly cheap courses run by professionals that range everywhere from a few hours to a few days. They’ve got courses for all levels of experience, and you can find some really interesting topics like how to capture the Milky Way and tips for Instagram.

Taiwanese restaurants in Toronto may not face as much competition as their other Asian counterparts, but the number of spots serving dishes like beef noodle soup are steadily growing in number.

Here are my picks for the top Taiwanese restaurants in Toronto.

Mei Nung Beef Noodle House

Beef noodle soup is, to many, the epitome of Taiwanese comfort food, and this restaurant in First Markham Place serves one of the best versions. They have some of the best chewy noodles around and their strong, dark broth is packed with flavour. Their stinky tofu is also popular but inadvisable if you have places to be later.

Hoja Luwei

This Koreatown restaurant pays homage to the food of Taiwan’s busy streets with slow-cooked meat broths and customizable selections of authentically flavoured veggies and protein.

Taipei Chin Yuan Pai Ku

Choose any of this Markham food court spot’s six or seven different set items (the Taiwanese pork chop is the most popular) for just $6.50. Mix it with some of their homemade pickles and hot sauce for a delicious, only slightly unhealthy meal.

Kanpai Snack Bar

There’s food court dining and then there’s this Cabbagetown restaurant, which sits at the other end of spectrum. They offer modern takes on Taiwanese favourite like TFC (Taiwanese Fried Chicken) and pair them with hand-crafted cocktails.

Papa Chang

Most widely recognized as a stall in Asian night market festivals across the GTA, Papa Chang’s actual storefront won’t win any points for ambience. But if you're craving fish skewers, popcorn chicken bento boxes or Taiwanese pancakes, few can top this Markham staple’s menu.

Tai Ping Hsiang

This mom-and-pop operation in Metro Square specializes in cheap Taiwanese bento boxes with rotating items. The popcorn chicken and vegetables is always a hit, while the blood pudding and fish cake side dish is much more delicious than it sounds. The lunch sets won't cost you more than $7, but take heed: service can be hit or miss.

Wiki Star

Blink and you'll miss this extremely well-hidden, cash-only restaurant, located in a small nook near Yonge and Finch. When you do find it, you’ll be pleased to find $5.99 three-cup chicken on rice and a big variety of bubble tea.

Charadise

The huge menu at this Baldwin Village restaurant serves up fancy selections of Taiwanese fare like New Zealand lamb and shrimps, as well as your usual fried favourites like chicken and calamari. You’d be remiss not to try their bubble teas, since their list of drinks is even more extensive than their food.

Lohas Café

Despite its rather unremarkable location at First Markham Place, this modest restaurant has a steady stream of regulars. Noodles are the specialty; my go-to is the minced pork noodle with bean sauce for just $6. Couple it with one of their milk teas for a cheap and satisfying meal.

Mabu Station

This place in Koreatown North is a part café, part restaurant. With a modern and cheerful vibe. It's one of the few spots in Toronto to serve oyster pancakes. Non-Mandarin-speakers may find the servers' relative lack of English skills daunting, but their Oreo milk tea will more than make it up for it.

Monga Fried Chicken

If you’re in the mood to stuff yourself with a massive piece of fried chicken, head to this global chain near Yonge and Bloor. The size of their filet can be intimidating, so stick to the nuggets and pork belly baos if you’re feeling shy.

Petit Potato

Serving a mixture of Taiwanese and Japanese fare, this gem in North York offers delicious dishes like yuzu sauce chicken wings. Their unique wood decor is worth appreciating over a towering ice cream cake doused in ice cream.

Mabu Generation

This bustling spot in Markham is the spot to go for steaming hot pot and spicy mussels. You can find unique sweet and savoury treats here like the Hokkaido molten cream cheese tart and lychee raindrop cakes.

Green Grotto

This restaurant with multiple locations include one near Yonge and College is known for its bubble teas but it also serve up tons of traditional Taiwanese food – meaning lots of fried stuff. Pair your milk tea with some fried chicken poppers, deep-fried soft shell crabs or a selection of baos.

Ten Ren’s Tea Time

To the untrained eye, this place looks like your average bubble tea cafe. The Richmond hill location of this Taiwanese chain, however, serves up way more than beverages, with cheap lunch and dinner specials that are worth looking out for.

Toronto used to be a hotel town. These days, the vast majority of such businesses are clustered downtown, whereas a century ago there were hotels and inns spread throughout neighbourhoods across the city. 

Perhaps surprisingly, many of these buildings remain. With the exception of well known spots like the Gladstone, Drake, and the Broadview Hotel, most have been re-purposed, some in a retail capacity and some restaurants and bars. 

If you know what you're looking at, it's sometimes easy to discern the previous life of these buildings, though not to the same degree as with the lost movie theatres of Toronto.

In general, it's the big properties like the former Ocean House at Queen and Roncesvalles that are easier to spot. When you examine the ornate architecture, even as the building has seen better days, it's quite easy to imagine its stately presence as lakeside hotel. 

Take a trip back in time with the lost hotels of Toronto. 

The Rossin House Hotel at King and York streets (from where the panorama was taken). Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Queen's Hotel (site of the current Royal York, which it was demolished to build). Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Empress/Edison Hotel (Yonge and Gould, destroyed by fire).

Alexandra Hotel (demolished in the building of Nathan Phillips Square).

Hotel Falconer, King and Spadina. The building still stands, though not as a hotel.  

Imperial Hotel at Dundas just east of Yonge, still standing as the Imperial Pub. 

Hotel Municipal on Queen near Bay, demolished.

Union Hotel on Queen near Bay, demolished.

National Hotel at King and Sherbourne, now the base of King + Condos.

Quigley Hotel on Danforth in between Woodbine and Main, still standing for now but soon to be condos.

Shamrock Hotel at the southwest corner of River and Gerrard, demolished.

Hotel Sheldon at the southeast corner Victoria and Richmond, still standing.

Ocean House Hotel at the intersection of Queen/King/Roncesvalles, still standing.

Dominion Hotel at Queen and Sumach, still standing.

Barclay Hotel at Wellington and Simcoe, demolished.

Walker House Hotel at Front and York streets, demolished.

Lord Simcoe Hotel at the northeast corner of King and University, now demolished.

Ford Hotel on Dundas east of Bay, now demolished.

The Sutton Place Hotel was the lap of luxury when it opened in 1967. It's now being turned into a condo.

It's Global Design Week here in Toronto, meaning there are free events and exhibitions all over the city. TO DO Festival boasts over 100 free events alone, and if that's not enough, the Toronto Light Festival is transforming the Distillery District back into a palace of lights.

Cheap eyewear and sunglasses stores are a crucial move for people who want stylish frames while on a budget. Whether you’re searching for prescription spectacles and sunglasses, or just some cheap sunnies you won't feel bad about losing, these stores have you covered.

Prescription eyewear
 

Ollie Quinn

This store now with multiple Toronto locations carries prescription glasses and sunnies for prices as low as $145, with styles ranging from round Harry Potters to steel aviators.

Saigon Optical

This unassuming Chinatown storefront is easy to miss, but don’t be fooled by its exterior. The main draw of this place is cheap prices, with occasional two for one deals for under $150.

Warby Parker

This American company offers a huge selection of cheap eyewear at its shop on West Queen West. For $150, you can get a pair of frames with prescription lenses and have them delivered straight to your home.

Optical Thirty 8

Grab some frames for just $38 at this appropriately named store on Queen West. A chain store with multiple locations, you can also save $100 on their selection of designer glasses with an in-house eye exam.

LF Warehouse

Located in an industrial strip mall in North York, this warehouse location of the LF Optical chain has brand-name frames available for as low as $100.

Specs & Specs

If you’ve got a specific designer style in mind, make sure to check out this store on Queen West before buying elsewhere. They sell designer glasses and sunglasses for significantly cheaper costs than other retailers, with prices as low as $150.

Black Market Vintage has lots of sunglasses to choose from for those on a budget. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Sunglasses
 

H&M

Whether you’re shielding your eyes from the summer sun or protecting your blinkers from winter snow glare, you can get a pair of sunglasses at this big box retailer for prices between $10 and $20.

Forever 21

This fast fashion retailer has a big selection of fun and stylish sunglasses to choose from. Frames cost between $8.90 and $21.90, and will have you looking totally on-trend while still on budget.

Black Market

Head downstairs to this grungy vintage store on Queen West for sunglasses that will cost you just $5 to $10. Just past the racks of old graphic tees you’ll find an eclectic selection of sunnies that range from basic to whacky.

Jessica Season Wear

Most people will never know the name of this store but will recognize it as that shop in Kensington Market with the cheapest sunglasses . Duck under their famous awning to check out all the styles they have to offer for just $10 flat.

Finding a job in Toronto can be a daunting task, but fortunately this is a great time of year to embark on your search. This winter, the city is home to a number of career fairs and job expos meant to aid you on your hunt.

Indoor plants are essential for nature lovers who don’t have the luxury of a backyard. If you’re looking to greenify your little basement apartment or condo space with some ferny friends and trendy terrariums, this city has a great selection of nurseries for you to peruse.

Here are my picks for the top stores to find indoor plants in Toronto.

Stamen and Pistil

A go-to place for pre-potted plants, this Dundas West store has a big selection of orchids, tropical plants and succulents for your enjoyment. Terrariums are also offered here, as are workshops on how to make your own.

Dynasty

Priding themselves in their unique array of hand-picked plants, Dynasty is a great place to look for indoor plants in the West Queen West area. They carry some exceptional large cacti and succulents, and their vintage pots and planters set them apart from other stores

Eco Stems

You won’t know how many varieties of terrariums exist until you visit this Corktown store. You can get the desert kinds, the open-air kinds, the type that hang from ceilings – everything. This great little spot also has air purifying plants like the weeping fig, if you want to freshen up your home space naturally.

East End Garden Centre

A fantastic resource for every type of greenery imaginable, this nursery in Leslieville has a huge variety of indoor plants of all shapes and sizes. Coming here just to browse is an experience all its own.

Plant World

Located in Etobicoke, this property has been growing vegetables since 1906. Orchids and tropical plants from Florida are aplenty in Plant World’s greenhouse. Walking through it, you’ll have no doubt that this space has long been in the hands of capable gardeners.

Urban Gardener

A pretty little space in the Junction Triangle, indoor greenery like cacti, succulents and potted plants are available here. Urban Gardener’s horticulturalists can also help you plan out your space better to ensure longer, happier lives for your plant friends.

Kim’s Nature

This family-run Markham nursery has a collection of bonsai trees that you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Kim’s carries varieties like Ginko and Mugo Pine, for the real bonsai aficionados out there. And really, who doesn’t want a tiny potted tree in their living room?

Home Depot (Stockyards)

Your favourite American home hardware store also happens to be a fantastic source for potted plants. Vegetation here is sold at very low prices, and this Junction location is a great place to find the tall types to spruce up your living room.

Crown Flora

This place is green in all types of ways. Not only do they have a big selection of terrariums here, they also share their storefront with Greenhouse Juice Co. to provide customers with greens for decoration and consumption.

Succuterra

Come out to this plant haven in Leslieville and have the time of your life perusing through their curated succulent selection. If you can’t make it out to their physical shop (shame) you can also order plants online and have them shipped to you.

The 6ix, whether you use it or not, is the official unofficial designation for the city of Toronto (we miss you TDot). It doesn’t matter who said it first, Drake or Jimmy Prime or the state of Atlanta. It’s here to stay and businesses in the 6ix are eager to bear its banner.

Here’s a roundup of businesses who’ve named themselves after the 6ix.

Pick 6ix

Because it’s Drake. His new restaurant at Yonge and Wellington, opening soon, is truly the perfect expression of the rapper’s relentless Toronto hypeman tendencies and his deep love for sports (“Pick Six” is a sports betting term). Apparently it’s going to be a sushi restaurant; is that because they come in 6ix pieces?

The 6 Burger

This little spot in Scarborough brings us an affordable menu dedicated to the city. Its special ‘6 Burger’, a chunky concoction of Angus beef, bacon, onion rings and cheese on a waffle bun, certainly lives up to its slogan of ‘getting your fix in the 6.’

The 6 Tea

This tea provider based in North York will ship custom tea blends to your door using their four-step Build Your Own Tea tool. For your enjoyment they’ve brought a lot of flower, fruit, and tea leaf options, some internationally grown, to our little corner of the world.

6ix Cycle

Fitness isn’t a trend, bro, it’s a lifestyle. Even still, this gym on West Queen West is positioning itself as the go-to place for Torontonians to get their spin on.

The Six Brewing Co.

Slated to open on Dundas West soon, this craft beer company is bound to have odes to Toronto all over it. Grabbing a beer from here and chilling in nearby Trinity Bellwoods might become one of those city summertime rituals.

Meditation Centres in Toronto are a great place to go when life starts feeling a little too stressful. For many centres, Buddhist teachings lie at the heart of meditation, but people of all beliefs are welcome to join. 

Here are my picks for the top meditation centres in Toronto.

889 Yonge

Both a yoga studio and a wellness spa, this Rosedale centre offers meditation and breathwork classes as a way to calm your nervous system. If you’ve got an overactive brain, you’ll enjoy this challenging but super beneficial method of breath control.

Shambhala Meditation Centre of Toronto

Spreading the ways of enlightenment is the goal of this Koreatown establishment, where you’ll learn the principles of Shambhala Buddhism. Donations are appreciated but not mandatory at their regular weekly classes, held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings.

Awakened Meditation Centre

Zen meditation classes are held here from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Saturday. Those three hours include walking and sitting meditations and Dharma talk from teachers at this New Toronto centre. 

Kadampa Meditation Centre Canada

This volunteer-run centre holds 30-minute meditation sessions every Monday to Friday. If you can spare the half hour, head over to this Buddhist temple in Little Italy during your lunch break for some well-deserved downtime. Sessions start at 12:15 p.m. sharp.

GoodLife MindDen Studio (Davisville)

Meant solely for meditation, the MindDen studio is a new addition to several GoodLife's around the city. If you’ve already got a GoodLife membership, head to this location on Mount Pleasant and book a guided meditation to add to your post or pre-workout routine.

Toronto Meditation Centre

Based in North York, this place runs seven classes daily. Consistency is key: each of their classes is two hours long and they’re all free.

Satipañña Insight Meditation Toronto

Satipañña is a non-profit organization that runs weekly mindful meditations in the Annex. If you want something more immersive, they also offer retreats to a variety of locations in the city and beyond.

Buddha Meditation Centre of Greater Toronto

Offering one of the most diverse meditation options on this list, activities at this Richmond Hill monastery include free chanting classes. They also have a class called Meditate With A Monk that is pretty self-explanatory.

Sivinada Yoga Vedanta Centre

Drop by this non-profit organization on Sundays for their free 4 p.m meditation classes. Located in Harbord Village, membership options include single classes as well as unlimited weekly and monthly class cards, so you can drop in when a mental breakdown is nigh. 

Meditation Toronto

While not a centre, this website is an amazing resource for free meditation classes around the city. This group also holds an event every Sunday from 6-8 p.m. in the Annex where participants can breathe, chant, and share a vegetarian meal together.

Independent jewelry designers in Toronto are artisans who know how to transform their passions into wearable pieces of art. What’s stylish now might be off-trend later, but when it comes to jewelry, quality craftsmanship is timeless.

Here are my picks for the top independent jewelry designers in Toronto.

Santa Isla

Colombian-born jewelry designer Jessica Sanchez partners with the Embera Chami peoples, an Indigenous group from Colombia, to bring their traditional Okama necklaces to the rest of the world. Every hand-beaded piece is stunning and moves towards preserving the Embera’s unique Indigenous culture.

Maison Raksha

Maybe most well-known for making one of Kanye’s favourite necklaces, Jonathan Raksha is is the golden boy of goldsmithing. His clientele list further includes Post Malone and Joey Bada$$, and he’s the go-to guy for Toronto locals to cop some top-quality custom grills.

Jenny Bird

This artisan from rural Ontario first found her footing in the design industry with a successful collection of handbags. Since then she’s shifted into the jewelry business, and everyone is really happy that she did: her sleek and modern jewelry make her one of this city’s best.

Wild Moon Jewelry

The Biakoye jewelry collection from this Toronto-born designer Asia Clarke is all about empowerment. Co-created with the Obrapaa Women’s Group in Ghana, pieces are made solely from recycled glass beads, and 100 percent of proceeds go towards the local artisans’ incomes.

Armed Jewelry

Designer Desiree Girlato started Armed while still attending Humber University, and since graduating has grown the shop to an eclectic storefront on Dundas West. Her designs include necklaces made of thick stainless chains from New York and durable pendants with stones from Arizona.

Erin Tracy

This OCAD grad specializes in custom bridal jewelry and ready-made pieces. Her style is classic, a little playful, and everything in her Liberty Village studio is ethically made. Canadian-mined gems and diamonds are the main source of shine here, and any international stones are conflict-free.

Matsu

Super elegant pieces are the basis of Jennifer Shigetomi’s designs. Full of silver and pearls, her designs are made in the studio of her Yonge & Eglinton storefront, which she operates with her sister and business partner Lisa.

Daniel Christian Tang

This brother duo has been gaining international attention for a while with their 3D-printed jewelry. Both Luca Daniel and Mario Christian use architecture as their design inspiration, which explains the geometric, cagey feel of their bangles and earrings.

Mindham Fine Jewelry

You can’t think about Toronto jewelry and not have Myles Mindham come to mind. The Toronto-born designer has some serious jewelry accolades under his belt. Operating first at the Park Hyatt hotel and eventually moving to Yorkville, Mindham has has been designing fine pieces of glam for this city’s elite since 1991.

Emily Gill

Originally from Quebec, Emily specializes in custom wedding bands that are down-to-earth but still incredibly refined. She loves to work with gemstones like sapphires, and she’s also one of the few designers to use enamel, a where glass is carefully melted onto metal surfaces to create something totally unique.